Before he crossed Trump, these Republicans were effusive over Mattis
Former defense secretary Jim Mattis’s unequivocal rebuke of President Trump is significant not just because of his standing in the U.S. military, but because he’s so revered among Republicans. Mattis was an unconventional choice for Trump’s first defense secretary, but one that was lauded by Republican lawmakers.
After Trump nominated him, Congress even passed legislation to allow Mattis to serve — current law requires the head of the Pentagon to be a civilian for at least seven years; Mattis, a retired Marine Corps general and head of U.S. Central Command, had been out of military service for only three. Led by Republicans, Congress gave Mattis an exception.
Then Mattis sailed through his confirmation hearing in the Republican-controlled Senate Armed Services Committee. It was then led by the late senator John McCain of Arizona, who was a big fan of Mattis. But other Republicans described Mattis in a way that made it seem like they thought he could do no wrong.
"I’ve been honored to have known you for 30 years,” said Sen. James M. Inhofe (R-Okla.) at the hearing. “I’m so excited that you’re willing to do this.”
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2020/06/04/somewhere-between-ronald-reagan-pope-before-he-crossed-trump-these-republicans-were-effusive-over-mattis/
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